Holloway: Phone call from Jackett led to talks with Millwall

IAN Holloway has confirmed that former Millwall manager Kenny Jackett played a vital role in convincing him to become the new Lions boss.

Holloway put pen-to-paper on a two-and-a-half year deal with the club this morning before taking charge of his first training session.

And he told the club's official website that Jackett persuaded him to meet with the Den hierarchy to discuss the vacant position.

"I'm delighted to be here," Holloway said. "I was out of work and got a phone call from a fantastic friend of mine in Kenny Jackett.

"He recommended that I speak to Andy Ambler and John Berylson. I asked him why, and he told me what kind of people they are.

"I met Andy on Thursday and John on Friday, and I was completely blown away for lots of reasons. Everything they want for the club completely mirrored how I feel. I've never felt so wanted in my whole life."

Holloway knows he has a tough job on his hands with Millwall fighting against relegation.

"I want them (the players) to enjoy coming to work," he said. "When you're getting beat it's not fun, and I want to enjoy my life. That's what I've told them.

"It's all about enjoyment and encouragement. They looked a bit down after last weekend so let's see what we can do.

"It's a tough division but I look around that dressing room and there's some fantastic talent.

"Hopefully we can stop losing; that's the first thing. I'll try and galvanise them into a way of playing – a Millwall way of hard work and effort.

"Kenny did a fantastic job to get the lads up and we've had some changes which don't always work.

"It's a new group with lots of changes, but a fresh voice in me might help them a little bit. I want them to enjoy their football and start getting some results under their belts."

@steveomfc5:
ALWAYS LIKED KENNY J.............MIGHT EVEN GET MY PHOT BACK OUT OF
KENNY & ME TO PIN UP...........WELL UNTIL I CAN GET ONE OF IAN HALLOWAY
& ME TOGETHER..............
[ USUALL GET THE PICS AS THE TEAM COACH ARRIVES ON THE AWAY MATCHES ].
" NO ONE L;IKES US, WE DON'T CARE "
STORMIN' NORMAN

@harryfabian: Ollie, Hi Kenny I am in the frame for the Millwall Job what do you think of the club. KJ well Ollie you are out of work, if you get it you wont need to move your family will you. Ollie no thats true, but what about them as a club. KJ well I have 5 years there some were a bit tricky but most were good, there fans are loyal but there are on average 10,000 but they let you know what they want. Ollie do you think I can do it yeah as I said your out of work and you have done this at other clubs so go for it, oh dont forget to let them know i put a good word in eh.

KJ was proberly looking out for a follow manager who is out of work, and why would he not recomend the club he had just left on good terms and that has took him to there heart, he may have spoken to others and said the Lions are not for you but who knows.

Now let the football do the talking as we have not seen any this season, if he can get us into the teens in the league then we can look forward to next season, with hopefully some good signings in the summer and others moving on.

Must have run out of things to say on this story by now Aldo, as you told us about him sounding out Jacket yesterday on the post at 15.34, we must also thank KJ for some of the contract extension he signed before he left the club, cant beleive he told holly the whole truth on some of his sigings.

If the above is true, then it shows what a decent person KJ is, despite the abuse he has received since he left us, he still tells IH that Millwall is a good place to go. I also like what IH is saying, no rash promises, hard work and effort is what he expects and he wants the players to enjoy the game, which, for whatever reason that has not been happening. Having said that, you feel also from what he is not saying that, he will not take s**t and anyone who is not of that mind will be on his bike. He was not my first choice, but I am 100% behind him.

Just been reading some of his post match quotes. I'm in absolute stitches. I think this bloke will fit in well around here. Good luck Mr Holloway, get us out of trouble, start building for the future and keep those quotes coming.

Thanks a lot Kenny, shows he still does care about the club. I am backing holloway 100% and the only way to give it to him is just to go down to The Den and support him every step of the way. We need to make The Den a fortress again! COYL!!!!!

We must not get carried away, there were a lot of similar comments when Lomas arrived, but Holloway has his feet on the ground and maybe we will see the effect on Saturday. If he can get the players believing in him and themselves plus the fans believing in the whole club then we cant fail but to move on up. Great that he has started with the team alreaady. Be interesting to see who will be in the starting lineup.

So we've established that Kenny Jackett was a Millwall legend and Ian Holloway will be a Millwall legend so that's over and done with. Now lets get this party started COYL MILLLLLLLLLLLLLWALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

I wonder if Ollie will keep his sunday slot in one of the tabloids, we might get some good publicity for a change.i always read his column,found it entertaining to say the least.this is surely, part of kj unfinished business with mfc.

Thank you KJ.
I must admit I did think kenny would have told ollie to stear clear after what happened last yr what with the wood fiasco and his dissapointment with the players attitudes.
How similar and honest both kenny and ollie are will stand us in good stead. Kenny left us in the championship which has to be commended cause if we dropped we would more than likely be in the same mess we find ourselves in, as for ollie regardless what some millwall and palarse fans may think of him he was man enough and honest enough to leave them in the prem with enough time to try and stay up which again has to be commended.
Good luck kj and thanks again
true gent.

I think its important to remember that we've been complete and utter s##t this season IH has inherited a squad that has just been thrashed by a league 2 side in the cup. We aint gonna suddenly turn into Barcelona overnight. I really hope that the crowd give him a chance to turn things round like AA has said are only goal this season is championship survival. IMO this is the best manager we've had at Millwall in years and even if we got relegated theres no better man to take us back up. I hope it wont come to that but lets back the bloke and give him a chance

yeah, couldn't agree more, kenny jacket top top man , and an excellent manager. really hope he gets wolves up this season, hopefuly we will be in the champioship as well, and when he brings wolves to the den next season, we can give him the standing ovation he deserved, that we never got to give him.

@bordersarebest0170:
Look forward to that day . Gives me goosebumps just thinking about how great a reception he will get and as you rightly say, one that he truly deserves.
Having his close pal Holloway there leading us out would be the icing on the cake for KJ I reckon.
Just got to get some wins and put some breathing space between us and the drop zone. I am confident that we will with Holloway.

Wot do you want dunny to ask the oppo strikers nicely not to score..if he wants to hurt the b**tards he has my blessing..& a lot of other fans...are you that sensitive..early this term the manager has tried a few in dunny role..none worked & thats inculding hoyte..which one do you really want...

thanks to kenny , i hope at the end of season we are safe , and wolves go up , it would be great to see kenny , and ollie together leading there teams out next season at the den, we as fans never got the chance to give him the thanks he deserves for the good 5 or so years , i dont think we would have got ian without his help

Iwatched dunno's interview on sky..the media probably grabbed him..i hav met dunny at a do to raise money for a long serving millwall fan..he walked in with bomber...not once did he give it the billy big b**lockr..you calling him mr millwall is spot on DUNNO IS TRUE BLUE

@Jim28: My mates say Im a top bloke, but that doesn't make me good enough to play. Dunne & Robbo are past it, and we should all accept that and move on. I met both at an end of season dinner, nice blokes, but time to make way.

I have just seen IH interview on millwall website he said he is going to leave things in the hands of the coaching staff for a couple of day's,so he can look at a load of millwall,s CD,s to see just what is needed.
Ian i think you are going to have a few nightmares when you see what has to be done with the defense.
also ian you have given a lot of hope to many fan,s,who i am sure are going to give you great support,i just hope our defense is going to give you the same level of support as us fan,s are going to give you.
I cannot wait for the Ipswich game as i am sure your arrival will put a few thousand on the gate and get us roaring again.
you have got my support no matter what.

I'm really disappointed in our fans thinking that KJ is anything but a legend at Millwall and perhaps one of out top 3 managers of all time. There are obviously a few issues with this squad that KJ created but he also was the foundation of our club and rescued it from what could have been the end.

We have short memories when KJ took over we were in the bottom 4 of league 1, he left us in the championship (admittedly only just), we struggle to get fans to the den in this league never mind league 2. KJ will always be respected in my household and will be bought a pint if I ever have the privilege to meet him in a pub.

Now for the future, holloway has his work cut out. He needs to re invigorate this group of players and that is a huge task. I honestly believe he is the only manager out there that can turn this season around and we might, might just stay up. If we don't then holloway is the man to get us back up.

Holloway knows what to expect from us, if his team fights and wears their shirt with pride they will be fully supported with loudest 10,000 fans anywhere in the world. It's his job to give belief to the players, it's our job to make sure the opposition is punished for thinking that coming to the den is an easy 3 points.

@dragonflymfc: Well said! Struggling in the Championship hasn't been much fun over the past couple of season but if we manage to stay up it will still in the top 20 of the club's all-time League positions!!! Relegation would have huge financial implications and getting out of League One isn't easy - just ask Wolves and Sheffield United whose resources dwarf ours!!!

@333lions: well said 333, I watch the scores on my iPad at 2am in the mornings in aust and f***** hate seeing those shitty early goals conceded. Boys do the job on the field and the fans do the job in the stands , everyone will be pleased (rant over)

@Bingolion: If Palace can go up with Murray and Zaha then we can go up with Marquis and Feeney, anything is possible in the championship. If Holloway stays for 3 seasons I reckon in the 3rd season we could get promoted.

If Jenny really wanted to help us out he'd have talked Holloway (or virtually anyone else) into the job before the Lomas debarkle!
Really great news to get someone like Holloway installed but I'm trying desperately hard not to get carried away and keep expectations reasonable. Keep us up, move on those players with the wrong attitude and strengthen with commited people and I think that will be a great start for this season.
You'll see the difference immediately with Holloway a man that fans will be more than happy to get behind (don't take that the wrong way).